Vacuum breaker



' Nov. 1', 193-8. M. M. BORDEN VACUUM BREAKER Filed March 25, 1957 v 5Sheets-Sheet l hex-firs- More .11. fiorazezz M. M. BORDEN VACUUM BREAKERNov. 1, 193s.

Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ft C l 0 v/3 i V r 1 0 WW Nov. 1,1938. M. M. BORDEN 3 VACUUM BREAKER Filed March 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet3 ore [I Bozo Zero Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKERMom Borden, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Simplex Valve and MeterCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application March25,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum breaking valves, andmore particularly to valves of the general type shown in my prior PatentNo. 1,936,537, granted November 21, 1933,

for Air vacuum valve combined with air release valve.

The purpose of such valves is two-fold; first,

that of breaking the vacuum occurring in thinwalled conduits orreceptacles due to the sudden release or withdrawal of the contentsthereof, for

example, as a result of breakage of a conduit for transporting liquidsover a rough terrain. In

such an arrangement, valves of this type are arranged at the criticalpoints of the line, and, in

event of breakage at a low point, to admit air to replace the escapingfluid, preventing collapse of the thin-walled conduit usually employed.The

second function is that of permitting escape of air during refilling ofthe pipe or initial filling thereof.

As ordinarily constructed, when the valve is opened to permit ingress ofair to the line, the formation of the valve is such that the air, havingto pass abrupt angles, is restricted in its passage with the result thata much larger valve must be employed to relieve a given vacuum thanwould otherwise be necessary. On the other hand, during filling of theline the escape of air is restricted usually at the outlet of the valvein such fashion that there is a tendency to reseat the valve prior tocomplete discharge of air from the conduit system, particularly wherethe refilling of the system is being rapidly effected.

An important object of this invention is the construction of the valveso that these detrimental features may be completely eliminated and thevalve so formed that it may be made of much smaller size thanheretofore, and at the same time function more efficiently;

A further object of the invention is the incorporation of theseimprovements in a valve of the type shown in my prior patent abovementioned without sacrificing the efficient features thereof.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I haveshown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing valve in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve in the open postiion;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve;

Fig, 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a slightly the 1937, Serial No.133,068

modified cover arrangement permitting complete housing of thecounterweight arm; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, showing a modifiedconduit connection.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l9generally designates a valve casing open at its top and bottom andadapted to have its base secured to a conduit H. The opening at theupper end of the valve is surrounded by a valve seat l2 adapted forco-action with an open-bottomed float valve IS, the seat and valve beingof the type described in my prior patent hereinbefore identified. Thevalve, as in said patent, operates within an inner casing membercomprising a cup or basin l suitably concentrically supported in thevalve casing as by means. of webs l5, such cup or basin having aperturesit to permit ingress and egress of air or liquid. This valve isadjustably counterbalanced through a weight W connected thereto throughthe link and lever system generally designated at ll.

The construction so far described is substantially identical with thatof my prior patent, and forms no part of the present invention except incombination with the additional features hereinafter described.

In accordance with the present invention, I secure upon the uppersurface of the valve casing, as at IS, in efiect an annular funnel ISthe lower wall of which, at its inner edge, coincides substantiallyexactly with the inner periphery of the valve seat and the outer wall ofwhich defines a central opening 20 through which passes link 2! of thelink and lever system counterbalancing the valve. The lever 22 of, thissystem may be conveniently pivoted upon the upper wall of the funnelwhich is preferably notched or grooved as at 23 to permit the lever toassume its lowered or valve closed position.

The cover may be a circular funnel in form, as shown at l9a in Fig. 5,this cover being so constructed that the adjustable counterweight iscompletely housed therein, thereby preventing collection of snow or iceabout the counterweight or its connection to the valve. Additionally, insuch a construction the downwardly opening annular mouth |9b of the airinlet formed by the combination of the casing and cover inhibitsentrance of foreign matter andlends itself to the ready application of aWire guard which will prevent the entrance of dirt, insects, or animalswhich might otherwise impair the operation of the, mechanism.

Upon the upper surface of the valve proper I secure a truncated conicalmember 24 the walls of which are curved in such fashion that when thevalve is in its lowered position they combine produce in the openposition of the valve a tapered air passage equivalent to a similarlytapered pipe providing gradually converging and divering areas for themore effective passage of air into or out of the valveiand its cover.The air ingress is 'thus facilitated, permitting a much larger volume topass'at a given time than would be possible where the air must changeits angle rapidly as in the priorlconstruction above identified so thatthe size of valve necessary to accomplish the vacuum-breaking functionin a given line is materially reduced. 7 f

In order to prevent the tendency of the valve to close due todifferences in air pressure set up during filling of the line, andconsequent discharge of air about the'cup or basin l4 and the upper endof the valve, I restrict the annular passage about this basin to form aVenturi throat 25, this throat being preferably in ap- 'proximatealignment with the opening l6 of the basin. It will be obvious that witha rush of air from-the conduit through the open valve, this 'Venturithroat will cause a corresponding reductio'n'in pressure so that thepressure at a point above the valve will be higher than that at thethroat. This reduction of pressure is reflected through the openings iii.in the basin l4' and serves to prevent the valve from seating until theliquid has entered the chamber and the proper moment has come for thevalve to close. 1

The increased efficiency thus afforded again permits reduction in thesize of the valve so that a much smaller valve can be employed thanwould ordinarily be necessary. Such a valve maybe equipped with an'airrelease valve of the type shown in the aforesaid prior patent asindicated in dotted lines at 26. I

It will be obvious that the efficiency of the apparatus may be furtherincreased by utilizing a bell-mouthed connection 21 between the base ofthe valve and the line I I, as suggested in Fig.

6, a valve 28 being preferably interposed between the "connection andthe release valve. Such an arrangement combines with the outlet 29' ofthe release valve to produce a Venturiform connection between this valveand line further promoting rapid transmission of fluids position of thevalve they combine to form a Venturi-form passage a portion of thediverging -Walls of which comprises theseat-confronting face ofthe-valve, the throatof the'Venturiform passage being in communicationwith the space confronting the opposite face of the valve, and a coverfor said. opening and valve providing a' continuation of saidVenturi-form passage.

2. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casing having anopening defined by a valve seat, a valve within the casing coacting withsaid seat and movable to seatedand'unseated positions, said valve andcasing being so 7 constructed and arranged that in the unseated positionof the valve they combine to form a Venturi-form passage a portion ofthe diverging walls of which comprises the seat-confronting face of thevalve, the throat of the Venturi-form passage being in communicationwith the space confronting the opposite face of the valve, a f

' defined by a valve seat, a valve within the casing coacting with saidseat and movable to seated and unseated positions, means controlled bythe liquid level in the casing to open and close said valve, said valveand casing being so constructed and arranged that in the unseatedposition of the valve they combine to form a Venturi-form passageaportion of the diverging walls of which comprises the seat-confrontingface of the valve,

and means defining a space confronting the opposite face of the valve,the throat of the Venturiform passage being in communication withthespace confronting the opposite face of the valve.

1 4. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casing havingan opening in its upper end defined by a valve seat, a valve within thecasing coacting with said seat andmovable to seated and unseatedpositions, means controlled by the liquid level in the casing to openand close said valve, said valve and easing being so constructed andvarranged that in the unseated position of {the Valve they combine toform a Venturi-fo-rm 'passage a portion of the diverging walls of whichcomprises the seat-confronting faceof the valve, means defining a spaceconfrontingthe opposite face of the valve, the throat of the Venturiformpassage being in communication with the space confronting the oppositeface of the valve, and a cover for said opening and valve providing acontinuation of said Venturi-fo-rm passage.

5. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casing having anopening in its upper end defined by a valve seat, a valve within thecasing coacting with said seat and movable'to seated "and unseatedpositions, means controlled by the liquid level in the casing to openand close said valve, said valve and easing being so constructed andarranged that in the unseated position of the valve they combine to forma Venturiform passage a portion of the diverging walls of whichcomprises the seat-confronting face of the valve, means defining a spaceconfronting the opposite face of the valve, the throat of the-,Venturi-form passage being inv communication with the space confrontingthe opposite face of the valve, a counterweight mechanism tending toseat said valve and a cover for said valve opening and counterweightmechanism providing a continuation of said Venturi-form passage. 7

6. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casing comprisinginner and outer members, the outer member having an opening defined by avalve seat, the inner member constituting a float chamber having an openupper end directed toward said seat, a float valve in said chamber forcoaction withsaid seat, the upper.

surface of said, valve, and the inner and outer casing members being soconstructed and arranged as: to provide, when the valve is in itslowermost position, an annular Venturi-form fluid passage a portion ofthe flaring walls of Which comprises the seat-confronting face of saidvalve, and openings in said inner casing member at the throat of theVenturi-form passage.

'7. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casingcomprising inner and outer members, the outer member having an openingdefined by a valve seat, the inner member constituting a float chamberhaving an open upper end directed toward said seat, a float valve insaid chamber for coaction with said seat, the upper surface of saidvalve and the inner and outer casing members being so constructed andarranged as to provide, when the valve is in its lowermost position, anannular Venturi-form fluid passage a portion of the flaring walls ofwhich comprises the seat-confronting face of said valve, openings insaid inner casing member at the throat of the Venturi-form passage, and

a cover for said opening and valve providing a continuation of saidVenturi-form passage.

8. In a valve structure of the type described, a valve casing comprisinginner and outer members, the outer member having an opening defined by avalve seat, the inner member constituting a float chamber having an openupper end directed toward said seat, a float valve in said chamber forcoaction with said seat, the upper surface of said valve and the innerand outer casing members being so constructed and arranged as toprovide, when the valve is in its lowermost position, an, annularVenturi-form fluid passage a portion of the flaring walls of whichcomprises the seat-confronting face of said valve, openings in saidinner casing member at the throat of the Venturi-form passage, acounterweight mechanism tending to seat said Valve and a cover for saidvalve opening and counterweight mechanism providing a continuation ofsaid Venturiform passage.

MORO M. BORDEN.

